Friday, December 05, 2003

Removing the Ikurriña

Government of Navarre takes Leitza town council to court for not removing Basque flag

It has brought a charge with the High Court of Navarre for keeping the “Ataka-beltza” house Basque flag

Irene Arrizurieta – IRUNEA (Pamplona)

The Government of Navarre has brought a charge against the Leitza Town Council before the High Court of Navarre. “For not abiding by the Law of Symbols and for keeping an “Ikurrina” [the red, white and green Basque flag] on a public building,” explained Alberto Catalan, the Navarrese Government spokesman, yesterday.

The Government of Navarre has taken legal action for failure to abide by the order to remove the “Ikurrina” hanging from the first balcony of the “Ataka-beltza” municipal building. The Leitza Town Council received the order to remove the “Ikurrina” from the “Ataka-beltza” house in October. Patxi Saenz, the Aralar mayor, was given 15 days to remove the “Ikurrina”, and if he failed to comply with the order, he was told that the Government would bring a charge before the courts. The Government of Navarre announced the court action yesterday but the letter announcing that a charge would be brought before the High Court of Navarre was received by the Leitza Town Council on November 5.